Animal trap



Aug. 17,1926. 1,596,005

W. E. DIEGEL v ANIMAL TRAP Filed July 27, 1925 Patented Aug. 17, 1926. i

U'Nirsn STATES,I PATENT ortica* ,l a Lssate --xg j j WILFRID n. DIEGEL, 0F Ervan Rouen, MICHIGAN.

a simple, strong and practical form of con-` struction, and adapted to hold the animal,

when caught, in a sure and positive grip,

and so as to not injure the fur of the animal.

Another object is to provide a trap having trigger or trap springing elements located on either side of the trap and in the path of the animal, the said trigger elements being cooperatively interdependent in such a manner that both of the triggers must be operated before the trap can be l sprung, whereby the animal is caught by the trap arm at the mid-point of its travel through the trap.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of this specification, reference being had to they accompanying` drawing,-

wherein Figure 1 is a top or plan view;

Y Figure 2 is an end elevation;

Figure 3 is a side elevation;A

Figure 4 is a detail of the trap arm pivot bar, showing a section of the attached trap arm. i V

In carrying out this inventionan elongated base 1 is provided, and is positioned horizontally, the same'having a number of an cho-r holes 2 formed therein to facilitate fastening the trap to the ground by means K of stakes or staples 3 driven therethrough into the ground. One end of the base 1 is widened and 'formed into a fork 4, the ends,y

of this fork being shaped into rings 5, the planes of which extend perpendicularly to the base and parallel to the axisv thereof.

A U-shaped trap arm pivot bar 12 is formed with rings l1 extended in parallel relation at each end. These rings 11 are of the same inner diameter as the rings 5 and are adapted to fit at the inner faces of the rings 5,

the bar 12 being made of an appropriate length for this purpose. A tubular shaft 6 is passed through the rings 5 and 11 and is held in place by pins 7 through the extended ends Anti/IAL TRAP,"

Serial No. 46,295.

trap rings 8 are joined at their upper portions by means of the connecting strip `13, the extended axial'line of which passes through the point 10 on the bar 12. The lower edge 'of the strip 13 and the'upper edge of the cooperating section of the arm 9 is serrated as shown at 14 to facilitate the gripping of the animal. Au'slot 15 is cut through the arm 9 and two trigger rollers 16 Vare journaled therein on axes parallel to the axis of the arm 9. A coil trap spring 17 encirclesthe tubular shaft 6 beneaththe bar 12, one end of the spring being attached at 18 to the base 1, and the other end being brought up over andattached at19 to the armv 9. The mountingand setting of the spring-17 is such as to normally throw the arm 9 upwardly and hold it strongly up against the connecting' strip 13. An arm locking mechanism is provided, consisting in serrating the lower edge of the arm 9,

adjacent its pivoted7end,.as shown at 20, and then mounting ay spring set detent 21 upon the base v1, in such manner that the bit ofthe detent will be normally held inv contact with the serrations or teeth 20, thereby locking the arm 9 at any vpoint ofits upward travel. For this purpose the detent 21 is pivoterd at 22 between the lugs 23 se` cured to the base 1, and aspring 24 is coiled around ,the pivot 22 and braced between the base 1 and the detent 2l. The pivot 22 being in'advance of the attachment point l0 of the arm,9,'the action of the detent is of course to` hold the arm 9 at any point of elevation to which it may be raised. Tread board supporting arms 25 are'hinged at 26 to the base 1, in transverse alignment with the rollers 16. There are two pairs of these arms 25 and one pair is mounted at each side of the base 1 opposite lone ofthe rollers 16, as stated, and they are adapted to move in planes perpendicular and transverse to the axis ofthe base 1. Tread boards -27 are mounted upon the ends of the arms 25 and at'such angles relative to the arms that when theouter ends of the arms are elevatediat angles of approximately 30 degrees from the base, the planesof the said tread boards 27 will extend horizontally and will approximately coincide. At the same time the elevational mounting of the arm 9 above the base' 1 should be such, that the rollers 16 will valso fall approximatelyv in the same horizontal plane with the. tread: boards 27. Stili flat fingers 28 are extended gers 29 being thrust through the slot 15 over ythe rollers 16, whereb-y the arm 9 is held in its depressed position. It is also obvious that either one of the triggers 29 1s suiiicient to hold thearm 9 in its lowered position. The trap being so set, as Vthe animal .passes upon it from either side, his weight upon-the tread board atthat side withdraws the trigger .29 at that side from its roller; but the trap is not sprung until the animal passes on over the base 1 and its weight falls also upon the other tread board. VVh'en this occurs the opposite trigger 29 is also withdrawn from its roller, and the arm 9 is then free to fly upward under the action of the strong spring 17,. The animal is carried upward on the arm and is pressed up against the rings 8 and the strip 1,3, where the animal is securely held.

Vhile I .have herein described acertain specic manner and method of constructing and assembling the elements of my invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details, not departing from the spirit of my invention, so as best to construct a practical device for the purpose intended, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In .a device of the kind described, a flat, elongated base having a forked end, the extremities thereof being formed into rings extended perpendicular to the base .and parallel to the axis thereof and to each other; a U-shaped trap arm pivot bar formed with end rings extended in parallel relation and adapted .to align with and fit at the inner faces `of the rings of the forked end 4of the baser; a tubular shaft passed through the said aligned rings; and a trap arm rigidly attached at one ,end to the said trap arm pivot bar.

2. In a device .of the kind described, a flat, elongated base having'a forked end, the extremities thereof being formed into rings extended perpendicular to the base and parallel to the axis thereof and to each other; a U-shaped trap ar-m pivot bar formed with end rings extended in parallel relation and adapted to align with and fit at the inner `faces of the rings of the forked end of the base; a tubular shaft passed through the said aligned rings; a trap arm rigidly attached at lone end to the said trap arm pivot bar; and a coil trap spring encircling the said tubular shaft, one end of trap arm pivot bar having spaced and parallel end rings adapted to register with and fit at the inner faces of the base rings, a tubular shaft passed through the said aligned rings; a trap arm rigidly attached at one end to the said trap arm ypivot bar, the said trap arm being serrated along its lower edge adjacent its attached end; and

a spring set detent mounted upon the base and normally adapted to engage the said serrations of the-trap arm to lock the trap arm at any point of its upward travel.

4:. In a device of the kind described, a flat, elongated base; a spring set trap arm pivotally attached at one end of the base and normally adapted to move upwardly from the base in the plane passing through the axis of the base, the said trap arm having a slot cut through its free end; two trigger rollers journaled in the said slot on axes parallel to the axis of the arm; tread board supporting arms hinged to the base at each side of the said trap arm and in approximate transverse alignment; tread boards mounted upon the free ends of the said supporting arms, at such angles relative thereto that when the outer ends of the arms are elevated at substantial angles, the planes of the said tread boards will extend horizontally and will approximately coincide with the horizontal plane passing through the said trigger rollers; lingers extended inwardly from the said tread boards, the yinner ends thereof being curved to form triggers adapted to engage the upper sides of the said trigger rollers to releasably hold the said tread boards in elevated position.

5. In a device of the kind described, a flat, elongated base; two spaced and parallel trap rings rigidly mounted perpendicularly at one end of the base with their planes parallel to the axis of the base; a connectng strip joining the said rings at their upper portions, the said strip being serrated along its lower edge, and the extended `axial line of the strip falling approximately at the opposite end of the said base; a spring set trap arm pivotally attached to the end of the base opposite to the said trap rings, the said trap arm being adapted normally to swing upwardly between the said trap rings and being serrated along its upper edge to cooperate with the said serrated connecting strip of the trap rings.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

wiLrRrn E. DIEGEL. 

